Improvement in self-closing telegraph-keys



J. H. McELROY.- .Telegra lph Key.

Patented Aug. 17,1869.

NFEIERS. PHOTOUTHDGRAPPOER. WASHINGTON, D C.

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JAMES H. MCELROY. OF WARWICK, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 93,7 28, dated August 17, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLQSING- TELEGRAPH-KEYS,

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES H. MoELnoY, of Warwick, Orange county, New York, have invented a new and improved Self-Closing Telegraph-Key; and I do any slight inadvertent touch,'o'r by anything dropping on it; also the combination therewith of a simple and convenient cut-out device.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents an elevation of a key having my improved arrangement, shown partly in section;

Figure 2,- a side elevation of the same; and

Figure 3, represents a plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents one pole of the instrument, and

B, the other.

To the latter, a spring, (J, is connected and fixed, so. as to have a constant tendency to bear against the under side of the end of the 'key 0', whereon the fingerpicc-c D is located.

The said finger-piece D is made hollow, the said hollow being enlarged near the upper end, and a secondary finger-piece, E, is arranged therein, having a concave top of about the proper size to receive the end of the finger, sufiiciently to be pressed slightly downward when the finger is applied to the piece D, toroperate the key, but the said secondary finger E does not project above the topof the piece D.

- It is made of non-conducting material, and passes down through the end of the key 0, and is connected to the spring \Vhen the operator ceases working, the circuit will be instantly closed, through the spring 0 resuming its connection with the .end of the key, and when the finger is applied to operate the instrument, the circuitthrough the springs will be instantly broken the pressing of the springs away from the key, through the action of the finger-piece E.

I am aware that finger-pieces, rising up through the piece I), and connected with weighted levers for closing and breaking the circuit, Iravebeen employed, but the objection to them, as heretofore arranged, is, that they project so prominently as to often encounterinadvertent touches, or the dropping of anything thrown, or other casualties whereby the circuit be comes broken, whereas, by my improved arrangement,

no such liability exists, and interruptions, which frequently occur by the old arrangement, are entirely avoided.

In order to provide a convenient means for cutting out the circuit, I provide a bot-torn, a, having a small stud at one end, and cam-shaped at the other, and pivot it to the key in a recess, the shoulders'of which will prevent the key from tnrningmore than required,

of non-conducting rnateral, and so arranged, with ref erence to the spring, that it will bear upon the upper surface thereof, and separate it from the key when moved in one direction, and suffer it to restore itself when moved in the other.

By preference, I arrange the said button on the right side of the key 0', and in such a position that Theconrhi'fiation, with the key 0', and spring 0, of o the cut-out a, arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention sigped by me, this 5th day of November, 1868.

JAMES H. MUELROY.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK B OGKLEY, ALEX. Ronnn'rs. 

